ARS | Publication request: EVALUATION OF COMPONENTS FOR HARDWOOD SILVOPASTORES FOR COW-CALF OPERATORS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 10, 2010
Publication Date: June 22, 2010
Citation: Brauer, D.K., Ross, D.E. 2010. EVALUATION OF COMPONENTS FOR HARDWOOD SILVOPASTORES FOR COW-CALF OPERATORS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. American Forage and Grassland Conference Proceedings. 19:6-11.

Technical Abstract: Silvopasture systems consisting of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and pines (Pinus spp.) are common in the southeastern United States. However, some producers prefer other forages to bahiagrass and there are increasing opportunities for marketing hardwoods in the region. Warm season forages and hardwood tree species were evaluated for their potential use in silvopasture systems in Arkansas and eastern Texas. Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides ) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ), suppressed re-emergence of bahiagrass better than other forages tested. Dry matter yields of both exceeded 5 tons/ acre the second year after planting. Three tree species including paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) and tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera) had growth rates in excess of the two tested oak (Quercus) species. These results suggest there are alternatives to bahiagrass-pine practices for silvopastures in the southeast United States.